Starting each day out right is key to living a healthy life. Many people begin their day already in a rush and hope to catch up with the healthy living later. If this sounds familiar, here is one simple and effective way to improve your health:

Squeeze one-half of a lemon (or lime) into 12-16 ounces of slightly warm, filtered water, and drink it.

Despite the fact that it may sound too good to be true, starting each day with warm lemon water will help cleanse, alkalize, energize and heal your body. Drinking warm lemon water upon rising also helps your body remove toxins and stimulate digestion.

During the night, toxins develop in the stomach, intestinal tracts and the liver. Lemon water cleanses the accumulation from the night, especially in the liver.

The liver is of the utmost importance to good health. With around 500 different functions, the liver’s roles include detoxification of the blood, protein synthesis, extraction of nutrients, and production of chemicals to aid digestion.

Lemons assist the liver and help it run its best. Here are some ways lemons help:

Purifies the liver by increasing detoxifying enzymes and eliminating waste. This is especially important in the morning, assisting the body to function properly as it begins a new day.
Stimulates the liver, assisting in digestion by helping increase the production of bile, which is critical for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins, as well as waste removal.
Helps the liver function properly, also assisting with weight loss control. To complement this, lemons also contain pectin, a fiber helpful with food cravings and hunger.
Lemon juice has an alkalizing effect on the body. While lemon is an acidic food, once eaten, it becomes an alkalizing agent, thanks to its citric acid. Maintaining a proper pH balance is one essential tool for staying healthy. Disease and illness thrive in an acidic environment, and can’t survive in an alkaline one.

Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Vitamin C can boost the immune system, purify the blood and can help colds, flu, sore throats and coughs. The minerals help nourish the brain and nerve cells, build healthy bones and teeth, lower blood pressure and benefit the nervous system.

The truth is, the benefits of lemons and drinking lemon water are virtually endless. So, stock up on lemons, and other premium produce today, at Livonia Glatt Market, on West Pico; and tomorrow, start your day the healthy way.